13 charged for food poisoning in Laguna

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines  – Thirteen persons have been charged in connection with a food poisoning incident that affected more than 400 elementary students in Calamba City in this province last Friday.

Charges of reckless imprudence resulting to multiple physical injuries were filed with the city prosecutor’s office against 11 employees of the AMS Electronic Co. and two members of the non-government organization (NGO) Haribon Foundation, according to Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao, provincial police director.

The Calamba City police filed the charges hours after the students suffered vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pains, reportedly caused by ice candy and cupcakes.

The city prosecutor however ordered the 13 released, noting the charges were premature and lacked evidence and toxicology report.

Saligao said the city police would file two more cases against the 13 respondents. He said they were gathering evidence for these cases, but refused to say what these cases would be.

Saligao said they created an investigating team composed of members of the local police, officials from the Department of Health and probers from the regional crime laboratory.

He said majority of the victims, who were taken to different hospitals in Laguna and Batangas, were discharged shortly after the received treatment.

As of yesterday, only six remained in hospitals.

The students of the Real Elementary School fell ill after eating ice candy and cupcakes distributed to them by the employees of the electronics firm and the NGO staffers during a program marking Nutrition Month.      

DepEd conducts probe

The Department of Education will conduct its own investigation of the poisoning incident and will coordinate and share its findings with the city health office, according to DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro.

Calamba City Mayor Justin Marc Chipeco said 438 students were rushed to the hospitals and those who were not discharged showed symptoms of pneumonia and urinary tract infection.

He denied reports that some have died, noting everyone has been declared out of danger.

Early this month, almost 2,000 students in the Caraga region were hospitalized after eating durian-flavored candies. – With Mike Frialde, Janvic Mateo